March 4 / 6:30 pm
Body Found in Hartford Apartment
 (Hartford-WTNH) _ Hartford police have a murder mystery on their hands. A man's body was found in an apartment on Charter Oak Place Thursday morning. Police say there were signs of a struggle. But they don't think the killing was random.
 News Channel 8's Jocelyn Sigue reports.
Guilty Plea in Murder for Hire Case
(Bridgeport-AP)_ A Shelton man arrested charged with trying to hire someone to kill his business partner, has pleaded guilty to a lesser charge. Russell DeTuzzi has pleaded guilty yesterday to one count of inciting injury to persons or property. The plea came after prosecutors agreed to drop a more serious charge of attempted murder. The case took a twist when the so-called hit man, who was working for the police, staged his own fake kidnapping a few weeks later.
Disappearance of Attorney Baffling
 (Marlborough-WTNH) _ It's been more than three days since anyone has heard from Hartford attorney F. Mac Buckley. Buckley was last seen at his house in Marlborough on Monday. Family members say he called to say he was heading to New Haven federal court. Now they're starting to fear the worst.
News Channel 8's Judy Chong reports.
Yale Ordered to Pay Millions in Medical Malpractice Case
(Bridgeport-WTNH) _ A huge victory for a New York family in their medical malpractice lawsuit against Yale. A superior court jury awarded $27 million to the family of Billy Jacobs. The family claimed that in 1986, doctors at Yale-New Haven Hospital performed unnecessary heart surgery on their son following a car accident. The doctors put a clamp on Billy Jacobs' aorta causing it to burst. He then had to learn how to speak, walk and breathe again.
William Jacobs, Victim's Father: "I can now move on to whatever needs to be done and concentrate on Billy. Just happy this is over. It's been extremely stressful."
Jacobs is now 29 and still needs constant care. Yale vows to appeal the award.
Police Officer Faces Charges in Highway Fatality
(New Milford-AP) _ A New Milford police officer, involved in a fatal accident last year, has turned himself in to face charges of negligent homicide with a motor vehicle. Officer William Scribner turned himself shortly after eight this morning to state police in Litchfield. On June 16, Scribner's police cruiser collided with a car and killed its driver, 17-year-old Angela D'Aquila. Allingham would not comment on the case or when Scribner will surrender to state police. Scribner, a 12-year veteran of the force, returned to work in November after being on medical leave since the accident. The collision occurred as Scribner was heading south on Route 7 to the scene of a fight between a dozen youths at a Candlewood Lake beach. He was released on a promise to appear in Bantam Superior Court on March 12th.
Bridgeport Officer Charged With Theft of Colleague's Motorcycle
(Bridgeport-AP) _ A police officer was charged with larceny and extortion Thursday in the theft of a colleague's motorcycle. Officer Elias Delarosa, Jr., 27, accepted ransom money and brokered the return of two motorcycles that had been stolen from other officers, police said. After $1,000 for each bike was paid to Delarosa, the motorcycles were returned, police said. The cycles were not police vehicles. Delarosa was charged Thursday in the theft of one of the motorcycles, which occurred in October, said Inspector Paul Lengyel of the State's Attorney Office in Bridgeport. Lengyel said police are pursuing other charges against Delarosa. Delarosa, who has been on the force about 5 years, was suspended without pay and released on a written promise to appear in court.
Officers Cleared in Sex Case
(Madison-WTNH) _ A group of Madison police officers accused of sexual activity at a stag party have been cleared of any wrongdoing by state police.
Investigators say they have not found any evidence to prosecute the officers, but they will turn the matter over to local police this week. One of the officers reportedly engaged in sexual acts with a prostitute at a stag party for an officer's son. The stag party was held at the Westbrook Elks lodge last fall.
The three officers involved could face departmental discipline.
Slain DEP Officer Honored
(Hartford-WTNH) _ A Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection officer killed in the line of duty was honored Thursday. The American Federation of Police honored conservation officer James Spignesi, who was shot and killed last November in a hunting accident. DEP commissioner Arthur Rocque said Spignesi exemplified professionalism.
Arthur Rocque, DEP Commissioner:
"Jim was very indicative of the way he did his job and very indicative of the way a lot of our employees do their work here in the department, they don't just do the job they live the job."
Rocque also announced that more than $23,000 has been raised for a James Spignesi scholarship fund. A corrections officer has been charged with manslaughter for the death of Spignesi.
Academy Loses Tuition Funds If Cadet Drops Out
(New London-WTNH) _ A recent report reveals the US Navy is owed millions of dollars by former cadets who dropped-out of the naval academy.
The US Coast Guard Academy in New London is a much smaller institution, but it's in a similar position. Cadets who leave before graduating don't pay back any of their educational expenses. The question is who's footing the bill?
News Channel 8's Peter Standring reports from our Southeastern newsroom at The Day.
Foundry Workers Return to Job
(Springfield, MA-WTNH) _ It's back to work for most of the 150 workers of a Springfield foundry. One week ago a blast ripped through the Jahn Foundry, killing one worker and critically injuring 11 others. Workers have been getting paid even though today was their first day back on the job.
The investigation is going slowly. One of the causes being looked at is
that the blast was sparked by a dust explosion. 7 workers remain in critical condition. 4 others are improving.
Schools Deal With Gun Incidents
(AP) _ Officials say they're dealing with two separate incidents involving guns and students in Danbury and Plainfield. Two Danbury eighth-graders were arrested this week after one of them brought an unloaded handgun to school last Friday and gave it to the other. Police say both boys and a third youth who saw the weapon in the second student's backpack on the bus ride home, have been suspended from school.
In Plainfield, an eight-grader was arrested yesterday after police say he threatened to bring a gun to school and shoot a fellow student. The boy was charged with two counts of threatening. The 14-year-old Plainfield student has been suspended for ten days.
Lewinsky Ratings Soar
(AP) _ (AP) _ The overnight Nielsen ratings from 44 big markets are in. Nielsen says an estimated 70 million people watched at least part of Barbara Walters' two-hour interview with Monica Lewinsky on ABC. That gives the show a 33.9 rating and a 47 share, meaning just under half the TV's that were turned on in those markets were tuned to Lewinsky. In 1993, Oprah Winfrey's prime-time interview of Michael Jackson had a 39.3 rating and 56 share.
Here's more on the ratings, and the first day of sales for Lewinsky's book.
Here's more on the interview.
Here are excerpts of the Barbara Walters interview.
He didn't watch, and he hasn't been briefed. So says the White House about President Clinton and last night's Monica Lewinsky interview.
The president was aboard Air Force One heading back from a Democratic fund-raiser in New Jersey when ABC began airing the two-hour interview. He returned to the White House just after it ended. There are TV screens aboard the jet, but press secretary Joe Lockhart assures reporters Clinton wasn't tuned in. And there are no plans for him to get a tape.
Families Sue Over Death of Teenagers
 (Middletown-WTNH) _ The families of three teenagers killed in a car crash are suing the city of Middletown and the car manufacturer for the deaths of their children. The accident happened on Laurel Grove Road in November of 1997 while the teens were on their way to school.
Erin Melzmuf, Julian Crete, and Jason Varrato died in the crash.
The parents claim Middletown did not maintain the road, and they blame the Ford Motor Company for the design of the car. Varrato was driving the 1984 for Tempo when he lost control and hit a tree.
Committee Urged to take Action Against Car Insurance Rates
(Hartford-AP)_ Lawmakers and city residents are urging the legislature's insurance committee to do something about the high cost of car insurance. In hearings before the committee today, they say it's unfair and discriminatory that car insurance rates are sometimes twice as high in the city as in the suburbs. One proposal is to make insurance companies base rates totally on drivers' records, not where they live. But the insurance commissioner say that approach would end up boosting insurance prices in the suburbs and it would hamper competition in the long run. The sponsor of one bill says the current setup lets insurance companies discriminate against entire cities while giving suburbs a break on their rates.
Horses Die in Fire
(Killingly-AP) _ Two people were injured and three horses killed in a fire that destroyed a family-owned horse farm. Marc and Jennifer Ledoux, owners of the Zendcrest Farm in the Dayville section of town, were injured in the early morning blaze Wednesday as they tried to rescue the Arabian horses. The fire destroyed one barn and damaged a second barn, a shed and the couple's home. Jennifer Ledoux, 35, was in fair condition at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center in Worcester Wednesday night, a nursing supervisor said. Her husband was released after treatment for burns, the supervisor said. Marc Ledoux, 37, was overcome by smoke inhalation while trying to rescue the horses and his wife. He pull his wife from the burning barn and dragged her to a nearby hill before losing consciousness.
The horses were worth approximately $30,000, Marc Ledoux said.
Effort to Clean up Stadium Site Begins
(Hartford-AP)_ The push is on to begin the nitty-gritty work of cleaning up the site for the proposed New England Patriots stadium in Hartford. The site is contaminated, but federal environmental officials say their first review of environmental records indicates the pollution is manageable. The Environmental Protection Agency's final word on the site though is still months away. The EPA is beginning an intensive environmental, historical, social and economic investigation of the Adriaen's Landing site. The process is being speeded up under the bill approved in December by the Legislature to bring the NFL team to the city. Yesterday, the state Capital City Economic Development Authority approved a contract for environmental and planning consultants and lawyers on the Adriaen's Landing project. The stadium is part of the Adriaen's Landing proposal.
Principal Resigns
(Cheshire-WTNH) _ The principal of Cheshire High School is calling it quits at the end of the school year. Thomas Neagle says he is ready to pursue new risks and challenges. Neagle came to Chesire four years ago after moving up the ranks from teacher to principal at Notre Dame High School in West Haven.
Over the past year the Chesire School District has had to hire a superintendent, deputy superintendent, an elementary principal and two assistant high school principals.
Yale Grad Students Stage Demonstration
(New Haven-WTNH) _ Hundreds of Yale graduate students and teachers marched on campus to protest what they call unfair working conditions. The graduate students claim Yale is downsizing it's faculty while increasing its undergraduate enrollment, and using graduate teaching assistants, or TA's, to get the extra work done. They're also protesting substandard housing.
Disney Recalls Mickey Waffle Irons
(Washington-AP) _ A recall for people who've had Mickey Mouse at the breakfast table. The government says Disney is voluntarily recalling more than 1,300 electric waffle irons that make waffles in the shape of Mickey's face. The US Consumer Product Safety Commission says the appliances aren't wired properly, and Disney has received one report of a waffle iron catching fire at the wall socket. The recall covers chrome and black Mickey waffle irons with three-prong plugs, the model number "1950," and a serial number beginning with either "17" or "46." The items were sold a little over two years ago for about $60. Disney is offering $70 gift vouchers to consumers who return the waffle irons.
Customizing Vehicles to Keep Kids Content
(WTNH) _ Last year, Americans spent more than $680 billion on new and used vehicles.
Then they spent another $19 billion to customize them.
Many consumers are putting TV's, VCR's and video games in their cars.
Consumer Team 8's Anna Sava tells us it's a way to keep the kids occupied on long trips.
State Sex Offender Website Online
(Hartford-WTNH) _ The State of Connecticut's Sex Offender Registry went online at the first of the year. Residents can look to see if a convicted sex offender is living in their neighborhood by accessing the information through the Department of Public Safety's website at www.state.ct.us/dps/
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